Armstrong Siddeley
Discussion
I had an elderly relative who had what the family always referred to as ‘The Armstrong‘ . It was a 50s Drophead, and by the time I remember the old man was too old to drive, so had his daughter drive him around in it. I remember her showing me its pre-selector gearbox, which I was told was just like racing cars have... This being the late 70s that fact was about as out of date as the car. Anyway, yes a very stately car with lots of leather and wood. Certainly not something to be rushing around in. I don’t think the daughter was so keen on it, too big and heavy, but the old man refused to go in her Mini Clubman.
In its day it had been used for trips as far as Spain and Austria.
I think it was sold in the early 80s and would have been in good condition, so likely survives.
Jonathan
In its day it had been used for trips as far as Spain and Austria.
I think it was sold in the early 80s and would have been in good condition, so likely survives.
Jonathan
I've always admired the 346 and Star Sapphires. Gorgeous looks, beautiful interior and very well built. Interesting pre select box on some of them. There used to be a Star knocking about locally but I haven't seen it for years, or any other one for that matter.
Lovely cars, although the 234 and 236 were nowhere near as nice looking.
Lovely cars, although the 234 and 236 were nowhere near as nice looking.
Nice cars and very well made by all accounts.
They were probably a bit old-fashioned looking and expensive towards the end of production. Interesting cars though and the engine was said to be rather good.
It seems likely that they didn't really engage with the changing market and were unable to compete with Jaguar on looks, performance or price.
A chap near me used to have a 1930's Armstrong Siddeley Special which was something of a supercar of the period if I recall correctly.
They were probably a bit old-fashioned looking and expensive towards the end of production. Interesting cars though and the engine was said to be rather good.
It seems likely that they didn't really engage with the changing market and were unable to compete with Jaguar on looks, performance or price.
A chap near me used to have a 1930's Armstrong Siddeley Special which was something of a supercar of the period if I recall correctly.
When I was a kid my grandfather had a Sapphire 346, nicknamed “the poor man’s Bentley” like some other post-war cars in Britain of the period. It was beautiful, smooth on the move with twin Stromberg carbs and a Wilson pre-selector gearbox. I also remember a very elegant leather and burr walnut interior. He chopped it in for a Vanden Plas R which was not nearly as impressive.
mph said:
Nice cars and very well made by all accounts.
They were probably a bit old-fashioned looking and expensive towards the end of production. Interesting cars though and the engine was said to be rather good.
It seems likely that they didn't really engage with the changing market and were unable to compete with Jaguar on looks, performance or price.
A chap near me used to have a 1930's Armstrong Siddeley Special which was something of a supercar of the period if I recall correctly.
This was my understanding too - on looks alone the 234/6 must have been a tough sell compared to a MK1 Jag.They were probably a bit old-fashioned looking and expensive towards the end of production. Interesting cars though and the engine was said to be rather good.
It seems likely that they didn't really engage with the changing market and were unable to compete with Jaguar on looks, performance or price.
A chap near me used to have a 1930's Armstrong Siddeley Special which was something of a supercar of the period if I recall correctly.
armsid said:
Armstrong Siddeley Anyone else like them?
I do. Might get thrown off PH admitting this, but when the kids started getting too big for the back seat of our 456, I bought this 1952 Hurricane. Fantastic adventures every trip guaranteed - including Spain and Ireland holidays. Armstrong Siddeley celebrated its Centenary last year with nary a mention in the classic car press.
Escort3500 said:
When I was a kid my grandfather had a Sapphire 346, nicknamed “the poor man’s Bentley” like some other post-war cars in Britain of the period. It was beautiful, smooth on the move with twin Stromberg carbs and a Wilson pre-selector gearbox. I also remember a very elegant leather and burr walnut interior. He chopped it in for a Vanden Plas R which was not nearly as impressive.
Thinking man's bentley more like; the engineering was better than RR/B postwar. Hurricane52 said:
armsid said:
Armstrong Siddeley Anyone else like them?
I do. Might get thrown off PH admitting this, but when the kids started getting too big for the back seat of our 456, I bought this 1952 Hurricane. Fantastic adventures every trip guaranteed - including Spain and Ireland holidays. Armstrong Siddeley celebrated its Centenary last year with nary a mention in the classic car press.
The latest edition of Sphinx arrived today and it got me thinking. This marque attracts engineers, pilots and people whose ancestors had some contact with it. For some reason, fashion has passed it by. There is a deep well of history behind it - lots of great books written by true enthusiasts.
Penguinracer said:
How would you rate Armstrong Siddeley in terms of quality compared to Daimler (Conquest / Majestic Major)?
While the Austin Sheerline was flamboyant I suppose it would rate below an Armstrong Siddeley.
I always think of the Sheerline as being a private hire/wedding/funeral director's car. I have a childhood memory of sitting in the little jump seats in the rear compartment.While the Austin Sheerline was flamboyant I suppose it would rate below an Armstrong Siddeley.
Penguinracer said:
How would you rate Armstrong Siddeley in terms of quality compared to Daimler (Conquest / Majestic Major)?
While the Austin Sheerline was flamboyant I suppose it would rate below an Armstrong Siddeley.
I am not an expert but I've driven a selection of 50s Daimlers and Armstrong-Siddeleys and my impression was that the Daimlers had the edge when it came to mechanical and engineering quality, but the A-Ss (especially the 346 with a Wilson pre-selector box and a jet-equipped Sphinx mascot - magnificent machine!) had much more solid and luxury-feeling bodies and interiors, as well as being much smoother and somewhat more modern to drive. While the Austin Sheerline was flamboyant I suppose it would rate below an Armstrong Siddeley.
The A-S felt like a car that had really had time and care put into building it, but it had still been built by hand by a small firm with limited backroom resources. The Daimler Conquest felt like a well-equipped and well-designed mass-produced car - like a Rover P4 with a decent engine or a Jaguar MkVIII with actual build quality. The A-S definitely felt more akin to an Alvis, Jensen, Bristol or the other ultra-low-volume builders. A motor carriage rather than a car...but a very quick and strangely surefooted carriage!
The Sheerline, of course, is a very different animal being built with a standard Pressed Steel body on the production line at Longbridge. It was part of Len Lord's ill-advised attempt to have Austin cover the entire car market from bottom to top. It was rather odd in being a mass-produced traditional square-rigged luxury car that was far cheaper than any erstwhile rival but lacking the quality or prestige (for which you had to pay out for the Vanden Plas-bodied Princess). As already mentioned the Sheerline ended up being bought mostly by the private hire sector, the funeral trade, company directors who didn't want (or weren't allowed) to put anything more expensive on the books and municipal authorities and other local government bodies which needed something impressive but inexpensive.
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